Grinding wheel feeding mechanism



Dec. 3, 1935. A. e. BELDEN El AL GRINDING WHEEL FEEDING MECHANISM Filed July 20, 1951 INVENTORS ALBERT G. BELDEN HERBERT/4. \SILI/E/V BY Q .T RNEY Wig/55358 Jta/nx hv W m.

Patented I 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRINDING WHEEL FEEDING MECHANISM Albert G. Belden and Herbert A. Silven. Worcester,

Mala, auignorl to Norton Company,

Worcester, Mala, a corporation of Mun-a ehuiettl Application my :0, 1931, s rial No. 551,848

,9 Claims. (01. 51-45) turning the feed screw through many revolul tions to move the wheel rearwardly to the. desired extent. This operation required considerable time when the grinding wheel is moved rearwardly or forward into an' operating position.

In these days of modern machining methods re quiring rapid production, it is desirable and essential that the loss of time be reduced to a minimum, and that the parts of a machine be moved rapidly during their idle movement so as to minimize the loss of time and to increase the 2.5 productivity of the machine.

- It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a grinding wheel mount which permits the wheel to be moved rapidly and accurately to a desired position by a fluid pressure mechanism and then to be further moved manually as desired for a grinding operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a grinding machine having the grinding wheel carried by a transversely movable slide and arranged for movement relative thereto by a fluid pressure mechanism, and to provide such adjustments and stopping devices as will serve to make the machine capable of precision grinding and rapidly moving the wheel towards and from the work and positioning it accurately relative thereto.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a micrometer feeding mechanism for controlling the grinding feed of the wheel and to provide a rapid positioning movement to move the grinding wheel to and from an operative position adjacent to the surface of the work.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a fluid pressure mechanism for moving the grinding wheel slide rapidly to and from an operating position adjacent to but out of contact with the work.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a fluid pressure mechanism for moving the wheel slide relative to an intermediate slide,

and a micrometer nut and screw mechanism for moving the intermediate slide relative to the base A to produce the *desired positioning and feeding movement. 1

It is still another object of this invention to 5 provide asuitable fluid pressure clamping mechanism for locking to its support that slide which is moved by the fluid pressure mechanism.

.Other objects will be apparent from the foregoing disclosur'ei" One embodiment of this invention has been illustrated in the drawing, in whichlike reference numerals indicate like parts.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a grinding wheel slide mounting and wheel feed- 15 ing mechanism having parts broken away and shown in section to more clearly show the construction.

In. accordance with'this invention, a slide is provided for moving the grinding wheel .transversely towards and from the work and a fluid pressure mechanism is provided-for moving the wheel transversely relative to the slide. This is preferably accomplished by means of an upper and a lower slide; the upper one of which is moved 25 by fluid pressure mechanism and the lower manually adjusted relative to the base. Means are also provided for'stopping this transverse movement at a desiredposition and foradjustably positioning the grinding wheel relative to the 30 work. Also, in our'preferred embodiment, we provide a fluid pressure-operated clamping device for clamping to its support that slide which is moved by the fluid pressure mechanism.

As illustrated in the drawing, a portion of a grinding machine has been disclosed comprising a base it which supports a slide II for transverse movement on the V-way l2 and flat way l3. This slide il in turn carries a. grinding wheel which is mounted for movement transversely relative thereto, and this movement may be accomplished by mounti i; the wheel on an upper slide H which is man ed to slide on the V-way l5 and flat way II on (the intermediateor lower slide H. A grinding wheel spindle I1 is rotatably 45 supported in bearings i8 in the wheel slide l4, and carries'at its outer end a grinding wheel 20 which is arranged to engage and grind a work piece 2|. The work piece 2| may be supported on the centers-on any well-known head and foot- 50 stock (not shown).

In order to attain one of the objects of this invention, namely, to provide a rapid positioning and withdrawing movement to the grinding wheel, a fluid pressure mechanism is operatively 55 -connected between the wheel slide II and the intermediate slide II. This mechanism may comprise a cylinder it which, as illustrated, is formed as an integral part of the wheel slide H. A piston 24. is slidably mounted within the cylinder 23 and is connected by a piston rod II to an upwardly extending bracket II on the intermediate slide ll. 7

Any suitable source of fluid pressure is provided for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder and piston, such as a reservoir (not shown) in the base, having an intake pipe 21 extending therein. A geared pump 2! pumps fluid from the reservoir through the pipe ll and pipe I! to a reversing valve ill which controls the admission of fluid to either end of the cylinder 23. Fluid passes through the pipe 3i into valve chamber 32 and, in the position of the valve as illustrated in the drawing, serves to balance the pressure between the valve piston It and valve piston ll.

when the valve stem 35 is moved towards the left, as viewed in the drawing. the port is uncovered and allows fluid under pressure to pass from the chamber 32 into a pipe 31, through a passage 38, in the wheel slide into a cylinder chamber 39 to move the wheel slide forward into an operative position, such as shown in the drawing. This mechanism may be utilized for a positioning movement to rapidly move the grinding wheel into an operative position adjacent to but out of contact with the surface of the work to be ground.

A stop collar 40 on the piston rod 28 closely fits within a dash pot cylinder H in the cylinder head 42. The collar 40 and cylinder 4| serve as a dash pot to slow down the movement of the wheel slide at the end of the stroke. The collar has a flat slabbed-ofi surface 40 which allows the fluid to slowly escape from the cylinder ll. This slow movement of the slide may if desired be utilized as a grinding feed. Engagement of the collar 40 with the bottom of the dash pot cylinder 4| serves to deflnitely limit the forward movement of the slide. A similar construction is provided at the other end of the cylinder 23 to cushion the rearward movement of the slide.

Similarly. when the valve stem 3! is moved toward the right from the position illustrated in the drawing, the port ll is uncovered and fluid under pressure is admitted from the valve chamber 32 through a pipe 48, a port 41, into a cylinder chamber 48 to move the grinding wheel slide l4 rearwardly to an inoperative position.

A manual control is provided for manually shifting the valve stem I! to move the valve so as to produce a forward or reverse positioning movement of the grinding wheel or to throw the valve into a neutral position to hold the wheel slide against movement. This mechanism may comprise a rock arm SI having a pin II engaging a slot 52 in the valve stem 35. The arm II is slidably keyed to a rod 53. The rod It carries at its outer end a manually operable control lever 55. The lever II is pivotally mounted on a stud it which is carried by a yoked member 51. The yoked member I1 is provided with an oppositely extending cylindrical portion II which is rotatably supported in a bearing 5! in a supporting member I. The member I is flxed to the front of the machine base. The rod It is slidably keyed within a central aperture ii in the portion It. The rod 88 extends within a clearance hole I! in the lever II and is connected v thereto by a pair of opposed pins '3 which are flxed to the lever and engage slots '4 in the rod ll. It will be readily apparent from the foregoing description that the lever 55 may be rocked in two planes at substantially right angles to each other. The stud 58 serves as one pivot to permit a swinging movement of the lever ll 5 towards and from the base, and the portion Bl serves as the other pivot to allow a lateral movement 'of the lever 85. Movement of the lever SI towards the left, into position Ila. moves the valve stem 35 towards the left and 10 admits fluid to cause a forward approaching movement of the grinding wheel slide. Bimiiarly, movement of the lever 58, towards the right, into position Bib, moves the valve stem 35 towards the right and admits fluid through 15 port ll, pipe 48, port 41, into chamber I to cause a rearward movement of the grinding wheel to an inoperative position.

It is desirable to provide means for locating the valve in a neutral position so that the operago tor may readily shift the valve to and from a neutral position so as to stop the forward or rearward feed when desired. The lever II is provided with a projecting pin ll which in a neutral position engages a slot It so that the as lever BI is held against sidewise movement. To permit a sidewise movement of the lever. it is necessary to move the pin I out of eng gement with the slot 68 so that the pin and lever I may be rocked either towards the right or towards so the left, depending upon the direction of movement of the wheel slide desired. It will be readily apparent from this disclosure, that when the operator desires to move the grinding wheel rearwardly, from the position of parts shown in the as drawing, the lever 65 is first pulled in a forward direction towards the operator to disengage the pin 65 from the slot 86, and then rocks the lever 55 into position "b, moving the valve stem 3! towards the right and admitting fluid from the 40 valve chamber 32 through port 45, pipe ll, port 41, into cylinder chamber 48 to move the grinding wheel rearwardly to an inoperative position.

Similarly, when it is desired to produce a forward positioning movement of the grinding wheel, 45 the operator moves the lever 5! forward to disengage the pin from the slot 8! and then swings the lever into the dotted line position "a which shifts the valve stem 35 towards the left and admits fluid through port 80, pipe", passo sage {8, into cylinder chamber II to move the wheel slide forward into a position adjacent to but out of contact with the work. If desired, the fluid pressure may be left on to retain a deflnite pressure between the parts so that the-oil fllm 55 is always squeezed to a predetermined extent to accurately position the wheel slide relative to its support on each successive grind.

It may be desirable, however, in certain grinding operations, to provide a suitable locking deso vice to clamp the wheel slide rigidly to the intermediate slide after it has been positioned Ulla.- cent to but out of contact with the work. To attain this object of the invention, a clamping mechanism is provided having a fluid pressure as cylinder 61 mounted on the top of the wheel slide.

A piston 68 is slidably mounted in the cylinder 61 and is operatively connected to a rod ll having a head It slidably mounted in a T-slot II in the intermediate slide II. A spring I! is interposed 70 between the cylinder head It and the upper surface of the piston to retain the piston in its lower position to allow free movement of the wheel slide on the intermediate slide. Fliud under pres-.- sure is passed through a pipe II from the gear 75 pump 20 through a control valve 10. In the referred construction, the control valve 10 is arranged so that it may be controlled by movement of the lever ll. As illustrated in the-drawing,

theroduservesasavalvestemandhasvalve pistons II and I mounted'integrally therewith. Itwillbereadily appreciatedfromthisconstruction that movement of the lever ll either towards or from the machine base moves the rod 00 endwise and shifts the. valve pistons 10 and 10 so as to open or close the valve I0.

The valve for actuating the clamping mechanism is preferably arranged to operate in timed and pipe 03 to a cylinder chamber 00 'on the lower side of the piston 00. Admission of fluid under pressure into the chamber 04 moves the piston 00 upwardly and gives a corresponding movement of the rod 00 and the head 10 so as to lock or clamp the wheel slide ll rigidly to the intermediate slide Ii. An exhaust pipe 00 is provided to carry off any fluid leaking by the piston 00 and returning it to the reservoir in the base.

When the lever 00 is moved towards the operator to draw the pin 00 from the slot 00, a corresponding movement is transmitted to the rod 53 which moves the valve pistons 10 and 10 towards the left, as viewed in the drawing. This forward movementof the rod 00 moves the valve piston 10 over the port 02 and cuts off the fluid pressure from the pipe 03 and at the same time opens a port 00 so that fluid within the chamber 0| may pass back through the pipe 00. and out through port 00 and a pipe 01 and be returned through pipe 00 into the reservoir of themachine. The released tension of spring I2 moves the piston 00 and rod 00 downwardly and unclamps the slide II. The lever 55 is normally held with the pin 00 in engagement with-the slot 00 by means of a spring pressed plunger 40, on the lever II, engaging a cam surface 40 on the yoked member 51.

An exhaust pipe 00 is connected between the valve I0 and pipe 00 and is arranged so that when the valve stem 30 is moved towards the right, as viewed in the drawing, to cause a rearward positioning movement of the grinding wheel slide, the valve piston 80 moves towards the right a sumcient distance to uncover the port 00 and permit fluid to exhaust from the cylinder chamber 30 through passage 00, pipe 31. and out through pipe .00 and pipe 00 into the reservoir. Similarly, an exhaust pipe Si is connected at the other end of the valve 30 to the pipe 88 so that when the valve stem 3! is moved towards the left to cause a forward feeding movement of the grinding wheel, fluid may exhaust from the cylinder chamber 40 through port 41, pipe 46, port 45, and out through exhaust passage 0i and pipe 00 into the reservoir.

To obtain a fine feeding movement of the grinding wheel during the grinding operation, a manually operable micrometer feed mechanism is provided, comprising a nut 00 flxed to and dependingfromtheiniennediateslide ii. Thenut 00' engages a feed screw it which is rotatably mounted in bearing (not shown) in the base of the machine. The forward end of the feed screw carries a gear 01 meshing with apinion 00 mounted on the stud 00. The pinion 00 may be 5 rotated by amanually operable hand wheel 100.

so as to turn the feed' screw to cause either a forward or rearward feeding movement of the grinding wheel. A pivotally mounted stop ill. is provided and arranged to engage an abutment I02 on the feed wheel I00. A suitable micrometer adjusting mechanism is provided so that the position of the'abutment I02 may be adjusted angularly relative to the feed screw, to adiustably limit the forward feeding movement of the grinding wheel. This mechanism has been illustrated only as shown one embodiment of this feeding mechanism, since this micrometermechanism does not in itself constitute a part ofthe present invention, and consequently has not been illustrated in detail. This mechanism may correspond to that shown in the expired patent to Norton, No. 762,838, dated June 14, 1904. For further details of the micrometer adjusting mechanism, reference may be had to the above-mentioned patent. I

The operation of this mechanism is readily apparent from the foregoing disclosure. The operator first moves the control lever outwardly and towards the left into position "a to shift the valve stem 30 and admit fluid pressure to the cylinder chamber 09 so as to move the parts into the position shown in the drawing, with the grinding wheel adjacent to but out of contact with the work. The operator then turns the feed wheel I00 in a counter-clockwise direction to feed the grinding wheel into the work. This feeding movement continues until the abutment I02 strikes the stop i0i which limits the forward feeding movement of the grinding wheel. Dur- 40 ing the feeding movement, the valve 10 may be in the position as illustrated in the drawing, with fluid under pressure passing through the pipe 03 into the cylinder chamber 04 so as to clamp the slide l4 rigidly to the intermediate slide ii. After the grinding operation has been completed, the operator backs the grinding wheel of! by turning the feed wheel I00 in a clockwise direction to move the grinding wheel out of contact with the work and then pulls the lever 05 0 away from the base of the machine, to disengage the pin 05 from slot 66, and moves it into position shifting the valve stem 35 towards the right,

as viewed in the drawing, to admit fluid through the pipe 48, port 41, into chamber 48, and causes 55 a rearward positioning movement of the grinding wheel to rapidly move the grinding wheel away from the work.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A grinding machine comprising a base, a support for rotatable work thereon, an intermediate slide mounted on the base for transverse movement relative to the work, a grinding wheel supporting slide supported solely by'the intermediate slide and movable transversely relative thereto, fluid pressure mechanism for moving the wheel slide transversely relative to the intermediate slide, and means including an adjustable stop for moving the intermediate slide to locate the wheel in a predetermined position.

2. A grinding machine comprising a base, a work support, a rotatable grinding wheel, a

transversely movable wheel slide to support said wheel, a transversely movable intermediate slide interposed between said wheel slide and base, a

fluid pressure mechanism connected to move. one of said slides, means to move the other slide, and means including a fluid pressure mechanism to clamp to its support that slide which is moved by the fluid pressure mechanism.

3. A grinding machine comprising a base, a work support, a rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable wheel slide to support said wheel, a transversely movable intermediate slide interposed between said wheel slide and base, a fluid pressure system including a cylinder and piston operatively connected between the wheel and intermediate slide to rapidly move the grinding wheel to and from an operating position relative to the work, and means including a second cylinder and piston-which are operatively connected to said system and'arranged to clamp the wheel slide rigidly to the intermediate slide.

4. A grinding machine comprising a base, a work support, a rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable wheel slide to support said wheel, a transversely movable intermediate slide mounted on the base and supporting said wheel slide, a micrometer feeding mechanism including a nut and screw operatively connected between the intermediate slide'and base to produce a flne ieeding movement of the grinding wheel into the work to grind the work to a predetermined size, a fluid pressure system including a cylinder and piston operatively connected between the wheel and intermediate slide to rapidly position the grinding wheel, a dash pot cylinder formed in the end 01' said flrst cylinder and a dash pot piston fixed to said first piston, which are arranged to gradually slow down and stop the forward movement of said wheel slide to position the grinding wheel adjacent to but out of contact with the work, said parts being arranged so that fluid under pressure may be retained to hold the wheel slide in a flxed position relative to the intermediate slide during the grinding operation.

5. A grinding, machine comprising a base, a work support, a rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable wheel slide to support said wheel, a transversely movable intermediate slide interposed between said wheel slide and base, a fluid pressure system including a cylinder and piston operatively connected between the wheel and intermediate slides to rapidly move the grinding wheel to and from an operating position, a reversing valve arranged to admit fluid to either end 01' said cylinder so as to move the grinding wheel either towards or irom the work, a second piston and cylinder which are operatively connected to said system and arranged to clamp the wheel slide rigidly to the intermediate slide, a valve arranged to admit fluid to said cylinder to clamp the wheel slide rigidly to the intermediate slide, and a single manually operable lever which is connected to control both or said valves so that the wheel slide may be moved either towards or from the work, or may be clamped rigidly into engagement with the intermediate slide.

6. A grinding machine comprising a base, a

work support, a rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable wheel slide to support said wheel, a transversely movable intermediate slide inter-. posed between said wheel slide and base, a fluid pressure system including, a cylinder and piston s operatively connected between the wheel and intermediate slides to rapidly move the grinding wheel to and-from an operating position, a valve arranged to admit fluid to either side or said cylinder to cause the wheel to be moved either tomy wards or from the work, a second piston and cylinder in said system which are arranged to clamp the wheel slide rigidly to the intermediate slide, a valve to control the admissionot fluid to said second cylinder, and. a single control lever operl5,

atively connected to control each of said valvu so that only one of said piston and cylinder mechanisms are operative at the same time.

7. A grinding machine comprising a base, a

work support, a rotatable grinding wheel, a trans- 20.,

versely movable wheel slide to support said wheel,

a transversely movable intermediate slide interposed between said wheel slide and base, a fluid pressure mechanism connected to move one of said slides, means to move the other slide, and 25,

means to secure to its support and hold immovable relative thereto that slide which is moved by the fluid pressure mechanism.

8. A grinding machine comprising a base, a

work support,-a rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable wheel slide to support said wheel, guiding and supporting ways on said wheel slide, a transversely movable intermediate slide which supports the wheel slide and is interposed .be-

tween the wheel slide and the base, slideways on 5-;

the top of said intermediate slide mating with the wheel slideways, mating supporting ways between .the intermediate slide and base. a manually operable precision wheel feed mechanism operatively connected between the intermediate slide and base which is arranged to feed the grinding wheel into the work, and a fluid pressure system including a cylinder fixed to the wheel slide and a piston flxed to the intermediate slide to rapidly move the grinding wheel to. and from an operating position relative to the work.

9. A grinding machine comprising a base, a work support, a rotatable grinding wheel, a transversely movable intermediate slide mounted on and supported solely by the base, a transversely ative to the work.

ALBERT G. BELDEN. HERBERT A. SILVEN. 

